- Presence of target cells on a peripheral blood smear is most commonly associated with thalassemia due to the imbalance in globin chain synthesis causing membrane abnormalities.
- These cells have a characteristic “bullseye” appearance resulting from excess membrane relative to hemoglobin content.
- Iron deficiency anemia typically shows microcytosis and hypochromia but not target cells.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome involve abnormal white cells and dysplasia, respectively, not primarily target cells.
- Thus, target cells are a hallmark of thalassemia in hematology.

Reference: Robbins Basic Pathology, 10th Ed., Volume 1, Chapter 18/pg. 676